Town Meeting 2010

AGENT ORANGE TOWN HALL MEETING
July 22, 2010, Oromocto N.B.

This picture shows the Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc's. display table as you entered the convention room. Donations were made and very much appreciated because we are a non-profit association and this helps us to continue the fight for a Full Judicial Public Inquiry, medical testing for all and compensation to all affected by the chemical spraying of Code Names Agent Orange, Purple 3 times as deadly and Agent White.

This picture shows that the convention room was full. Roughly 130 people plus lots of media. We truly appreciate everyone who was able to come to the meeting and share their stories and ideas!

Left to Right Head Table:

-Margie Hogan, Widows on the Warpath Group Rep
-Bette Hudson, Founder of Widows on the Warpath
-Carol Brown Parker, Co-President of Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc.
-Judy Sgro, Liberal Critic for Pensions & Seniors
-Rob Oliphant, Liberal Critic Veterans Affairs, at Podium Giving opening remarks and what the Town Hall is about.
-Far left is the first Agent Orange Quilt of Canada made by Carol Brown Parker with the help of a few members. The quilt was named "Gagetown Legacy Quilt
-Camera man is Danny who is making "The Gagetown Movie"
-The man to far right first row is a Lawyer with Merchant L Law from Montreal and part of the Class Action Lawsuit.

Left to Right Head Table:

-Margie Hogan, Widows on the Warpath Group Rep
-Bette Hudson, Founder of Widows on the Warpath
-Judy Sgro, Liberal Critic for Pensions & Seniors
-Rob Oliphant, Liberal Critic Veterans Affairs
-Carol Brown Parker, Co-President of Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc, at Podium giving a speech regarding the Chemical Spraying Atrocity of Code Names Agent Orange, Purple & White at CFB Gagetown and Surrounding Areas.

Left to Right:

-Judy Sgro, Liberal Critic for Pensions & Seniors
-Carol Brown Parker Co-President, AOAC Inc.
-Rob Oliphant, Liberal Critic Veterans Affairs.

Robert Oliphant, M.P. Calls for Full Public Inquiry into Agent Orange
Posted on July 23, 2010

OROMOCTO, N.B. – Robert Oliphant, Liberal Member of Parliament for Don Valley West, and Official Opposition Critic for Veterans Affairs, re-iterated his call for the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs to initiate a full study and conduct hearings investigating the Agent Orange spraying program at CFB Gagetown and surrounding areas during a town hall event held yesterday. During his remarks yesterday, Mr. Oliphant assured community members that he would push for increased compensation and a full public inquiry.

Mr. Oliphant organized a town hall event in Oromocto, New Brunswick on July 22 to hear from those Canadians most affected by the Agent Orange and other defoliant programs. He was joined by the Hon. Judy Sgro, M.P., also a Liberal Member of the Standing committee, and over 125 members of the community. Participants shared their concerns both intelligently and emotionally about the suffering they, and their families, have endured, both personally and as a community.

The very limited nature of the Conservative government’s compensation program has led many to feel abandoned by the Canadian government. The program, consisting exclusively of ex-gratia payments in the amount of $20,000 as compensation for victims of the Agent Orange spraying, was widely criticized for its small amount and its limited eligibility. Currently, only those who were still alive on February 6, 2006, the date the Conservative Government was sworn in to office, are eligible to receive compensation. Widows of those who died prior to this date justifiably feel left out. Additionally, the list of eligible illnesses is much more restrictive in Canada than in other countries.

The group “Widows on a Warpath”, represented at the town hall by founder Bette Hudson continued to call for the government to change the eligibility date for the ex-gratia payments. “To use such an arbitrary date to determine eligibility for this payment is simply ludicrous.” Oliphant said. “The government is punishing families who lost loved ones prior to their election. This payment is nothing but a symbolic gesture from a government that bills itself as pro-military, but has yet to demonstrate that they are prepared to care for those who have served,” Oliphant added.

The Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc., represented by Co-President Carol Brown Parker, called for the government to conduct a full inquiry into the spraying program. “The Liberal Party is committed to bringing this issue before the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and will call for increased compensation and a full public inquiry.” Oliphant continued. “After the committee has conducted our study we will then be able to make a series of comprehensive recommendations to the government on the appropriate way forward.” Oliphant concluded.

The town hall provided local veterans and civilians with a forum to share their concerns. “My goal was to come to this event and listen to the people who have had their lives altered by Agent Orange,” Oliphant said. “I applaud the brave men and women who came forward and shared their concerns. I am committed to bringing a new voice to the concerns that were presented to me when I return to the House of Commons in the fall.”

For those of you who could not be at this TownHall Meeting, here you can view a complete video that Doug Sutherland, President of News-Cast.Com, made in support of this association's cause.
- click on the blue word VIDEO, a new page will open,
- Select "WATCH NOW" beside 'Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting'

FOLLOW UP
Ignatieff's Canadian Bus Tour, at a planned stop,
Moxon's Country Market, Maugerville, New Brunswick

left to right: Pam Campbell- Liberal N.B. Candidate, Hon. Michael Ignatieff- Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Official Opposition, Carol Brown Parker- Co-President Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc.

Hon. Michael Ignatieff shaking hands with Carol Brown Parker Co-President of the Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc. receives our supporter Agent Orange wristband.

Hon. Michael Ignatieff committed during his stop at Moxon's Country Market to take the necessary steps as leader of the opposition, to press for a Full Judicial Inquiry and to use whatever procedures necessary to obtain adequate government support for Military & Civilians poisoned by the spraying programs of CFB Gagetown from 1956 to 1984.

left to right: Carol Brown Parker- Co-President Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc., Hon. Judy Sgro- MP Critic for Seniors & Pensions, Bette Hudson- Head of the Widows on one Warpath, Kelly Wilson-Liberal N.B. Candidate

Hon. Judy Sgro is a avid supporter of our cause for challenging our present federal government for Full Judicial Inquiry into the Atrocities that happened at CFB Gagetown with the chemical spraying of Military & Civilians alike.

left to right: Carol Brown Parker- Co-President Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc., Hon. Marlene Jennings- MP Deputy House Leader for the Official Opposition & the Liberal Critic for Government Ethics & Democratic Reform

On November 24, 2009 — Mrs. Jennings (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine)put Motion-468 before the House of Commons
— That, in the opinion of the House, the government should act upon the promise made by the Prime Minister during the 2006 election campaign and the recommendation of the Agent Orange Association of Canada Inc. and use the remaining unused portion of funding, approximately $48 million, previously allocated for ex-gratia payments to the victims of Agent Orange, to: (a) conduct an independent inquiry into the use of herbicides such as code names Agent Orange, Agent Purple, and Agent White, at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown from 1956 to 1984; and (b) conduct medical testing of any person who may have been exposed to the use of such herbicides at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown from 1956 to 1984. Mr. Rob Oliphant, who is the Liberal Critic for Veterans Affairs, expressed his support for the motion.